Apparatus for the treatment of impure petroleum oils



May 10,1927.

J. D. BRADY APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IMPURE PETROLEUM 011,5

Filed Auz. 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4 7 8 2 1 Y D A R B D lw May 10, 1927.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IMPURE PETROLEUM OILS Filed Aug 29, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1-.I riUI arl at u 11 J. 0. BRADY May 10-. 1927.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IMPURE PETROLEUM OILS Filed Aug 2,9, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 attoznuf? Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

IOHN D. BRADY, OF EL DORADO, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO BRADY PROCESS GOM- IANY, OF EL DORADO, ARKANSAS, A QORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IMPU'RE PETROLEUM OILS.

Application filed August 29, 1925. Serial No. 53,372

, This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the treatment of petroleum oils, which have become emulsified, or which are impure by reason of mixture with water or other foreign elements. I

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a relatively simple and compact device, by which water mixed petroleum oils, such as roily oil may betreated in apparatus, to heat the same to enable the breaking up of the emulsion; the improved apparatus utilizing a single tank which will take the place of the conventional gun bar rel and settling tanks.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved apparatus for the treatment of impure or water mixed petio leum oils, which embodies novel means to treat the oil. therein and heat the same to break up the emulsion, and which embodies automatic level controlled valves for regulating the proportions of water and oil drawn from the apparatus after treatment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference (haracters designate rorresponding parts throughoutthe several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus, showing details thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the cooperating details of the invention.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the apparatus on the line 33 of Figure 2, and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the cross sectional view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of the apparatus, the same being a side elevation directly opposite to the elevation illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line ti e oi? 1Figlire-Q.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred einbodiment of this invention, the letter ft may generally designate the improved tllifillltltlls, which may comprise a tank 13; heating means C associated therewith; means 1) to regulate the flow of oil thru the tank B;

means E to automatically regulate the drawing oil of water after separation of the same from the emulsified petroleum in the tank B; and means F to automatically regulate the drawing oil of the oil from the upper part of the tank ll,-after the same has been separated from the water by reason of treatment in the tank B.

The tank ll is preferably of the vertical tubular type, and in actual practice the same is many feet in height, sometimes ranging to as much as fifty feet. It includes the iylindrical shaped body or wall portion 10, having the top wall 11 thereon upwardly thru which a gas conduit 12 leads, and which may be provided with a suitable controlling valve, although the same not illustrated in the drawings, A relief valve 18 may also be provided in the top wall 11, as is illustrated in liigure 2. In the lower part of the tank ll, a concave-convex wall or bottom. 14. is supported, in any approved manner, having a central opening 15 therein, and below the bottom 14, laterally extending thru the tank 13 is a conduit 16, having" a control valve 17' therein exteriorly of the tank 13; the conduit 16 being provided for the purpose of withdrawing heavy settle" ments formed in the tank incident to the breaking up of the emulsions, such as tar, sand, and the like, although this conduit 16 may be used for cleaning the tank in order to effectively drain the same in a short period of time.

The heating means C may be of any approved type, and in so far as the tank I is concerned, the same mainly includes a plurality of conducting flues 25, horir/iontally supported transversely thru the tank 1%, es-

tending thru the coun'uirtment thereof, at the lower part of the tank B, just above the bottom wall 14; the tines being open outwardly at the ends thereof exterior-1y oi the tank I). At one side of the tank it, at the open end of the lines 25, the same communicate with the firebox or furnace 28, which includes a" fire compartment 29 hav ing a way 3t).communicating directly with the inlet ends of the horizontally disposed lines 25. At the opposite side of the tank B, the lines 25 are connected with a smokebox ill. of any approved character. horizontally from which leads a smoke stack 3:2, which may have its outlet end at a point remote from the tank 13, so as to eliminate any ill) lllfi liability of explosion of gases which may collect about the apparatus A incident to operation.

The means D is provided for the purpose of regulating the flow of the emulsified oil, or product to be treated, and the same includes a conducting tube 40, which is axially disposed in the tank B, above the heater flues 25, and the u per end of which is provided with the unnel shaped inlet end 41, which flares from the conductor tube upwardly towards the top of the tank, and at its edges 42 is peripherally connected in a sealed relation to the internal periphery of the tank B. This funnel 41 is spaced just below the top wall 11 of the tank- B, and an inlet conduit 44 detachably extends into the tank B, just above the funnel 41, for the purpose of depositing the emulsified product into the funnel 41. A flaring battle 45 is provided over the passageway 46 thru which the emulsified product enters the tank B; this battle 45 being supported by the tank B, and tapering towards the funnel 41, for the purpose of directing the product to be treated towards the conductor tube 40 as it enters the tank B. Gas vent tubes 48 and 49 are preferably supported by the funnel head 41 of the means D, providing passageways 50 which communicate with the space 51 below the funnel 41, for the purpose of venting gas from the space 51 upwardly thru the tubes 48 and 49 into the space immediately below the top wall 11 of the tank B, sothat said gas can pass thru the conduit 12.

The means D for controlling the flow of the petroleum product to be treated contern plates placing battle means for retarding the flow of the emulsified product immediately prior to its discharge adjacent the heater flues 25, and this battle means preferably contemplates the provision of upper and lower substantially concavo-convex baflie plates 60 and 61, connected at their peripheral edges 62, and diverging from said peripheral edges towards the centers thereof, to provide a compartment 63. The upper battle (it) at its center is provided with an opening about which a flange 64 is provided, and the lower end of the conductor tube 40 is inserted in this opening and attached therein by the flange 64, as by soldering. Thus, the passageway 65 of the conductor tube 40 exits directly into the compartment 63 of the battle device at the lower end of the tube 40, and the lower ballle plate 61 is preferably provided with a centrally disposed exit opening 67 immediately facing over the heater flues 25, as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. A further deflecting arrangement is provided by means of a preferably flat battle plate 70, which is sup ported as by means of short straps or brackcts 71, in the compartment 63, immediately eral connection of the bullies (50 and 61, so

as to provide an annular space thru which the oil must pass in order to exit thru the opening 67.

A substantially frusto-conical shaped bar} fie plate is peripherally supported at 81 I by the tank walls 10, above the baille pla e 60, in spaced relation therewith, converging upwardly towards the conductor tube 40. This baffle plate 80 is preferably provided with a central opening 82, thru which the tube 40 extends, and the oil as it rises in the tank B must pass upwardly between the battle plates (30 and 80, and thru the space between the periphery of the opening 82, and the exterior surface of the conductor tube 40, into the upper portion of the tank B, as can readily be understood.

The treatment of the emulsified product in the tank B will cause a stratilication between the oil and water, the oil, of course, rising to the upper portion of the tank, and as the process is a continuous one, the water and the oil are continuously and automatically withdrawn by liquid level controllers which maintain the level of liquid in the tank substantially constant.

Referring to the means E for automatically withdrawing the water from the tank B, in regulated quantity, the same preferably comprises a conduit 85, communicating at 86 with the lower portion of the tank B below the battle arrangement. This conduit is provided with a valve adjacent the tank B, consisting of a valve seat 87, upon which the valve member 88 operates. Connected with the valve member 88 is the upwardly extending rod or stem 89, which between the ends thereof is provided with a turnbuckle arrangement 90, which is important for the purpose of regulating the valve upon its seat, as will be stdxeequently apparent. A vertically positioned conduit 91 is preferably provided in conjunction with the means E, having a lateral connection 92 at the lower end thereof communicating with the tank B adjacent the connection 80. At its upper end this conduit 91 is provided with a lateral connection 92,

communicating with the tank at the top thereof just below the topavull l1. intermediate its ends the conduit 01. is preferably provided with a casing 94: providing a compartn'ient 95 within which the liquid rises incident to level of the liquid in the tank B. as will be readily apparent; the pipe JLhaving upper and lower connections with the tank B, in order to permit the level of liquid to rise therein to the same level as exists in the tank B. Operating in the compartment 95 is a float 96, to

which is connected a lever 97, being pivoted at 98. The lever 97 exteriorly of the tank is connected at 99 with the upper end of the valve rod or stem 89, and it is thus readily apparent that whenever the li uid of the tank 13 is such as to cause the toat '96 to elevate, the valve 88 will be lifted otl' its'seat 87, for the purpose of permitting the contents at the lower portion of the tank B to drain otf thru the conduit 85. This draining usually consists entirely of water, and of course the proportion of liquid withdrawn may be regulated by the turnbuckle 90, as is readily apparent. Normally, during operation the float 96 is clcvated to such position as to place the valve member 88 to its widest 0 )en extent.

The means F is provi ed for the continuous and automatic withdrawal of the oil after its stratification from the water in the tank B, and to this end preferably comprises a conduit 101 which communicates with the upper portion of the tank B, at 102, below the funnel head 41. In this conduit 101 a valve is provided consisting of a seat 103 and a valve member 104 operable over the seat; the valve member 104 having a connecting rod or stem 105 in which positioned a turnbuckle 106 to adjust the length thereof.

The level controlling means for the valve 104. consists of a vertically positioned con duit 107, having lower and upper lateral tubular connections 108 and 109, communi eating with the tank B respectively below the connection 102 and just below the top Wall 11, for the purpose of permitting the top stratum of oil in the tank B to pass into the conduit 107. In this conduit 107 a casing 111 is provided, having a relatively large compartment 112, within which a float 113 is operable, having a lever arm 114 connected therewith and pivoted at 115. The lever member 114 at its free end is preferably adjustably connected at 117 to the valve stem or rod 105, so that it can be seen whenever the oil in the compartment 112 is such as to elevate the float 113,

the same thru its lever 114 will keep the valve 104 open to permit the continuous drawing oil of oil thru the conduit 101.

In order to determine from time to time at what plane the stratification of the oil from the water occurs, it is contemplated to place a plurality of pet cocks 120 along the tank 13, preferably diagonally upwardly therealong, as is illustratedin Figure 1 of the drawings, and it is readily apparent that an operator can easily determine the plane of stratification between the oil and water, in order to determine the adjustment of the water and oil withdrawing valves, to properly proportion the withdrawal flow thereof. This is innortant, since all emulsified or impure oils do not contain the same proportion of impure ingredients or Water, and therefore by experiment it is desirable to attain a valve adjustment properly proportioned for the withdrawal of the water and oil.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a novel type of apparatus has beer provided for the treatment of emulsified petroleum, which is compact, and which will effectively perform the functions of settling out the sand; venting gas; breaking up the emulsion between the oil and water; and continuously withdraw- .ing the separated oil and water during the continuous operation of the apparatus.

A manhole 125 may be provided in the tank B, for the purpose of having access to the tank B for removal of the parts thereof, or for cleaning the same.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the in vention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a tank, a valve at one portion of the tank, a second valve at another portion of the tank, liquid level float means for the first valve operably connected thereto for opening the valve at a predetermined liquid level in the tank, liquid level float means for the second nected thereto for holding the second valve opened at a higher level of liquid in the tank than will operate said first mentioned liquid level means, and means for proportionately varying the maximum open positions of said valves.

2. In apparatus of the class described a tank, valve means operable at dilierentelevations for withdrawal of liquid from the tank, liquid level control means for operating said valves to hold them open at predetermined liquid levels, and means for proportionately varying the maximum open positions of said valves with respect to each other.

3. In apparatus of the class described a substantially vertical tank, heater means in the lower portion of the tank, a conductor tube extending substantially vertically thru the tank in spaced relation therewith, a funnel head supported at the upper portion of said conductor tube, means for inlet of emulsified petroleum into the tunnel head, means for venting gas from below the funnel head to the upper portion of the tank, means for venting gas from the tank, battle means supported by the lower end of the conductor tube for retarded flow of petroleum emulsions therefrom to said heater means, battle means carried by the tank about said conductor tube and above the first baffle means, liquid level controlled valve means for with- Tov valve operably c loo llo

' ill drawal of liquid from the tank below said bafile'means and adjacent said heatermeans, and liquid level controlled valve means for withdrawal of oil from the tank between the baffle means and funnel head of the conductor tube.

4. In apparatus of the class described a substantially vertical tank, heater means in the lower portion of the tank, a conductor tube extending substantially vertically thru the tank in spaced relation therewith, a fun nel head supported at the upper portion of said conductor tube, means for inlet of emulsified petroleum into the funnel head, means for venting gas from below the funnel head to the upper portion of the tank, means for venting gas from the tank, bafiie means supported by the lower end of the conductor tube for retarded flow of petroleum emulsions therefrom to said heater means, battle means carried by the tank about said conductor tube and above the first battle means, liquid level controlled valve means for withdrawal of liquid from the tank below said bafiie means and adjacent said heater means, liquid level controlled valve means for withdrawal of oil from the tank between the battle means and funnel head of the conductor tube, and means for proportionately regulating the withdrawal of liquid from the tank thru said first and second mentioned valve means.

5. In apparatus for the dehydration of petroleum oils the combination of an elongated vertically disposed tank, a conductor tube extending substantially vertically through the tank having an unobstructed passageway therethrough, means for feeding impure petroleum oils into the upper end of said conductor tube for flow through the passageway thereof, baffle means at the lower end of said conductor tube for bathing the flow of impure petroleum oils therefrom into the tank, means for heating the impure petroleum oils in the lower portion of said tank, a second bafile means in the tank above said heating means for battling the vertical travel of liquid in the tank, float controlled valve -means above the second mentioned battle for withdrawing pure oil from the tank, and float controlled valve means below the second mentioned batlie means for withdrawing water and other impurities from the tank.

6. In dehydrating apparatus for the purification of petroleum bils the combination of a vertical tank having a compartmenttherein, a vertial conductor tube arrangement extending centrally into said tank, a funnel shaped device on the upper end of said conducting tube extending to and in substantial abutment with the inner walls of the compartment of said tank, to subdivide compartment of the tank into an upper portion above the conductor tube and a lower portion below the funnel on the conductor tube, means in the tank below the conductor tube for heating petroleum oils, means above the funnel of the conductor tube for feeding the impure petroleum oils into said funnel and into the conductor tube for flow to said heating means, means communicating with the tank for withdrawing separated oil and water therefrom and upright vent tubes carried by said tunnel shaped member communicating the compartment portions below and above saidfunnel shaped member.

7. In a dehydrator of the class described the combination of a vertical tank having a compartment therein, means for feeding impure petroleum oils into the tank, means for treating the impure oils in the tank to cause segregation of pure oil upon the water with a plane of stratification at a predetermined level, valve means connected with the tank for withdrawing water therefrom at a location below the predetermined plane of stratification, valve means communicating with the tank for withdrawing pure oils therefrom at a location above the predetermined plane of stratification between the oil and water, float means for operating the first mentioned valve, the tloat means being operable by the liquid within the tank at a location adjacent to the )lane of stratiiication between the oil an water, and float means for operating the second mentioned valve means, said last float being operable by liquid within the tank and being positioned at a location above the second mcntionezl valve means and above the first mentioned float means.

8. In oil dehydration apparatus the combination of a vertical tank, means for feeding impure petroleunroils into the tank, means in the tank for treating impure petroleum oils to stratify the oil upon the water, a conduit exteriorly of the tank having an upper end communicating with the upper portion of the tank and a lower end communicating with a lower portion of the tank in the body of water below the level of the body of water which stratifies from the iure oil valve means connected with the tank for withdrawing water and impurities therefrom at a location below the pure oil which settles in the tank, float means operably positioned in said conduit for operation by rise and fall of liquid in the conduit responsive to rise and fall of liquid in the tank, and means connecting said float means with the valve means to adjustably regulate the closing and opening of the valve responsive to float operation.

9. In a petroleum oil dehydrator the combination of a vertical tank,- means for feed ing impure oils into thmtank, means for,

treating the impure oils in the tank for segregation of the pure oil from the water and impurities, valve means for withdrawing ital Ill)

mpure oil after treatment in the tank, valve means for withdrawing the water and impurities from the tank, at a location below the first mentioned valve means, and means for operating each of said valve means comprising floats operable at different levels and adjustable connections between the respective floats and the respective valves for regulating the opening and closing movements of said valves according to predetermined levels of liquid in the tank.

10. In an impure oil dehydrator the combination of a vertical tank having the compartment therein, a substantially vertical conductor tube in the tank having the lower end thereof terminating short of the bottom of the tank, heater means in the tank above the bottom for receiving the impure oil from'the conductor tube, baflle means over the lower end of the conductor tube, above the heater means comprising a pair of connected substantially frusto-conical shaped plates supported by the conductor tube and providing an enlarged compartment therebetween, and a battle in said enlarged compartment between said frusto-conical plates.

11. In a dehydrator of the class described the combination of a substantially vertically arranged tank having a compartment therein, a vertically depending conductor tube supported at its upper end within the tank, heater means in the tank below the con ductor tube, an outwardly flaring plate supported at the lower end of the conductor tube and annularly thereabout, a downwardly flaring plate supported at its outer edge by the outer edge of the first mentioned flaring plate to provide a compartment between said plates of greater diameter than the diameter of the conductor tube, the lower plate having a passageway therethrough aligning with the conductor tube, a baffle plate in said compartment between said flaring plates, means supporting the said last mentioned baflle plate by the conductor tube in spaced relation with said flaring plates and its outer edge in spaced relation with the connected edges of said flaring plates, said last mentioned bafiie plate obstructing the flow of liquid through the conductor tube and through the opening of the lower flaring plate, means for feeding impure oils into the upper end of the conductor tube for flow towards said last mentioned baffle plate, and heater means in the tank below said opening of the lower bafile late.

12. n an oil dehydrator the combination of vertical tank providing a compartment therein, a vertical conductor tube supported in the tank compartment having a passageway therethrough, means for admitting impure petroleum oil into the upper end of said conductor tube for flow along the passageway thereof, heater means in the tank below said conductor tube, an annularly extending downwardly sloping plate sup ported by the lower end of the conductor tube abox e said heater means and at its outer circumference being spaced slightly from the inner surface of the tank compartment to permit passage of liquid upwardly into the tank compartment between the tank and said outer edge of the downwardly sloping plate, and an upwardly flaring baffle plate supported in the tank compartment at its outer circumference and sloping upwardly and at'its upper end having an opening through which the conductor tube freely extends in a spaced relation to permit the liquid to pass upwardly between said downwardly sloping plate of the conductor tube and upwardly slo ing plate attached to the tank and thence t rough the opening of the upper baflle plate into the compartment of the tank thereabove, means for withdrawing pure oil from the com artment above said last mentioned baflle p ate, and means for withdrawing impurities from the com partment below said heater means.

13. In apparatus for the dehydration of petroleum oils the combination of an elongated vertically disposed tank, a conductor tube extending substantially vertically through the tank having a passageway therethrough, means to permit the feeding of impure petroleum oils into the upper end of said conductor tube for flow through the passageway therethrough, battle means at the lower end of said conductor tube for battling the flow of impure petroleum oils therefrom into the tank, means for heating the impure petroleum oils in the lower portion of said. tank, means for battling the up ward flow ofoils through the tank, valve means for venting oil from the tank above the said battle means, valve means for venting water from the tank below the said battle means, liquid level float means for the first mentioned valve means operably con nected thereto for opening the said valve means at a predetermined liquid level in the tank, and liquid level float means for the second valve means operably connected thereto for holding the second valve means open at a lower level of liquid in the tank than will operate the first mentioned liquid level float means.

JOHN D. BRADY. 

